The watch for the missing piece of Edmonton’s defense got a
bit of an update via an indirect source on Wednesday. Edmonton didn’t sign a
defender. Their competitors haven’t signed or traded one either. On Wednesday
the Colorado Avalanche signed 22 year old center Mikhail Grigorenko to a one
year $1.3 million dollar deal.

We're into mid-July around the hockey world and the Calgary Flames still have four restricted free agents left to re-sign. The most prominent names are forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan (along with Freddie Hamilton), but blueliner Tyler Wotherspoon hasn't signed yet either. (Also on the market: unrestricted free agent Jakub Nakladal).

Earlier today, it was announced that the Minnesota Wild placed right shot, right winger Jordan Schroeder, who is awaiting an arbitration hearing, on waivers. In a move that seems to be the Wild flexing their muscles, is there a chance for the Oilers to capitalize on a bottom six player?

The Edmonton Oilers qualified defenseman David Musil on June 27, and he will likely sign a contract similar to Jordan Oesterle ($585,000, one year). Musil's entry-level deal—the one that just expired—held a cap hit of $894,166. Why would Musil take a cut in pay (should he play with Edmonton)? Comes the answer: To get to the NHL, and possibly stay there. Such is the developing salary gap between the haves and have-nots in today's NHL.

What constitutes a "good game"? Many other sports, notably baseball, have seen their advanced stats communities tabulate what are known as "game scores," in an attempt to quantify what constitutes a good game.

In the context of ice hockey, obviously there are significant differences in terms of what are major events worthy of being captured in a game score. But the folks at Hockey Graphs have made an attempt. How does it work, and what can it tell us about the Calgary Flames?